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Philippines: Kasambahay bill crucial in pushing for domestic workers' rights abroad

Philippines: Kasambahay bill crucial in pushing for domestic workers' rights abroad

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by IDWFED published Dec 14, 2012 12:00 AM
The enactment of the Kasambahay bill into law will give the Philippines the “moral ascendancy” in pushing for the rights of Filipino domestic workers worldwide, government and nongovernment officials said on Dec 13, Thursday.

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Read the original article in full: Kasambahay bill crucial in pushing for domestic workers' rights abroad, groups say | GMA News

The enactment of the Kasambahay bill into law will give the Philippines the “moral ascendancy” in pushing for the rights of Filipino domestic workers worldwide, government and nongovernment officials said on Dec 13, Thursday.

The bill, already ratified by the House and the Senate, is still awaiting the signature of President Aquino III.

“Alam mo ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng isang national law na nagbibigay ng proteksyon o naglalayon na iangat ang antas ng uri ng paggawa ng mga kasambahay, kasi source community ka e, source country of origin ka ng migrant domestic workers,” said Ana Liza Valencia, project coordinator on Decent Work for Domestic Workers Project of the Philippine office of the International Labor Organization.

The ILO is the attached agency of the United Nations (UN) which sets proper and decent labor standards for workers.

For the government to demand for the rights of domestic workers abroad, “kailangan mong ipakita rin na sa loob ng bansa ginagawa mo rin,” noted Valencia said during the event “Celebrating Milestones, Recognizing Champions of decent work for domestic workers” at the PETA Theater in Quezon City on Thursday evening.

“Kapag ang Pilipinas, ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ay nakikipag... we engage in bilateral agreements, minsan ang tanong ay paano niyo ba binibigyan ng proteksyon iyong mga lokal na manggagawa ninyo, walang basehan,” Valencia said.

“So nakakadagdag din (ang Kasambahay bill) ng moral ascendancy na ‘Kami, sa loob ng bansa namin, ito ang patakaran namin,’” she added.

Philippine role

Hans Leo Cacdac, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), noted the two important roles of the Philippines in pushing for the rights of domestic workers: the adoption and subsequent ratification of the country of ILO Convention 189, or Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, the Philippines’ role as an origin country of a million domestic workers worldwide.

“We are looked at as a country that spearheads the regulation of recruitment and placement as well as the welfare of domestic workers. In that sense, we are also seen as a leader, or I should say, a trailblazer, in the area of domestic workers’ rights,” Cacdac said.

“With respect to our trailblazing efforts in domestic worker advocacy worldwide, the Kasambahay bill will give us further momentum to push for rights of domestic workers, protection of domestic works,” Cacdac said.

When passed into law, the Kasambahay bill will “place us on a better negotiation position” with other countries, he said.

Kasambahay bill

The Kasambahay bill is expected to strengthen the rights of around 1.9 million domestic workers in the country.

The Kasambahay bill has been ratified by both the Senate and the Congress. All it is awaiting now is the signature of President Benigno Aquino III.

In the Congress bicameral committee, both agreed to set the minimum wage for domestic workers as follows:

  • P2,500 a month for those employed in the National Capital Region;
  • P2,000 a month for those employed in chartered cities and first class municipalities; and
  • P1,500 a month for those employed in other municipalities.

Te Kasambahay bill will also enable domestic workers to get social benefits--from agencies such as Philhealth, Social Security System and the Pag-IBIG Fund--and 13th month pay and leave permits after working in a household for a year.

More importantly, domestic workers will be subjected to a “Standard of Treatment” that prevents employers from hurting or abusing them.

Photo: KC Wong/FLICKR

Source: Gian C. Geronimo/GMA News

Story Type: News

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